ROYAL OAK, MI -- Calling the law "bizarre and discriminatory," state House Rep. Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills) is voicing opposition to a Royal Oak ordinance that bans discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people, who aren't explicitly granted those protections in the Michigan constitution. The Royal Oak City Commission passed the law in March, but

and McMillin said in a news release Monday that he helped circulate the petition. The ordinance will likely be placed on the ballot for a citywide referendum. McMillin said he opposes the law in part because he believes it would allow transgender people to use restrooms designated for the opposite sex. “Why the city would want to force places like schools, businesses and fitness centers to allow men to use a women’s restroom or locker room – and allow boys to access girl’s restrooms and locker rooms in schools, is beyond me," he said in the release. "It certainly violates the privacy rights of women and children. At the very least, the council should have also included a requirement for warning signs on women’s and girl’s public restroom and locker room doors saying that women and girls may be confronted there by men who think they are women." (Response:

to pass the ordinance, which they did March 4 with little vocal opposition. But resident Fred Birchard later turned in 1,226 petition signatures opposing the law. In 2001, Royal Oak voters overwhelmingly rejected a similar ordinance. "The discrimination and coercion this ordinance supports – that a Christian photographer or baker must, if asked, offer their services to a so-called 'gay wedding' or face a $500 per day fine is wrong," McMillin said in the release. "... Bullying Christians is wrong, too.” Related: